Building a legacy for the future

Elizabeth Bailey

St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Greensburg is taking up a collection, and this capital campaign extends beyond the weekly offerings taken up at Mass.

From penny wars among the youth to pledges from adults, everyone is trying to do their part toward the goal of a new campus, committee member and long-time parishioner Will Ricke said.

Currently, the church is home to 1,200 families, requiring four Masses each week. The building was constructed on the 4.5 acre lot by 80 families in the 1870’s and 1880’s and has a capacity of 400 to 425 in the sanctuary. Each of the Masses reaches 80 percent capacity, which is considered among churches to be a full sanctuary.

The small lot can cause quite a challenge when it comes time to park for services. Ricke also pointed out the building is served by only one restroom for each gender. With a growing number of parishioners, the church has been considering the possibilities for its future growth for many years, reaching as far back as 1962.

For some, the current building has deep meaning, causing them to hesitate to leave. Although many love the old landmark building, St. Mary’s Pastoral Council President Donna Lecher said, things have become quite crowded. With limited space surrounding the existing buildings, expansions and additions pose serious challenges, pushing the parish to decide a new building is the best way to serve the future of the church, Lecher noted.

The existing facilities will be sold upon completion of the new facilities, allowing the parish to use the funds toward its new home.

The Archdiocese requires 25 acres for new construction, which has been donated by Leon and Carole Nobbe. The land sits one mile east of the current church along U.S. 421. Until the time comes to break ground, the area will continue to be farmed.

Although the ground has been acquired, more is needed to make the building a reality. As of March 1, 493 people had pledged $6,505,480 to the project through the course of the next three years. Adding in the existing assets of the parish, St. Mary’s has more than $8 million dedicated to the new structure, which is more than halfway to its goal of $15 million.

The open campaign is the largest ever for the church, Ricke pointed out. Also setting it apart is a dedication to raising the funds locally.

Currently, leadership within the parish is working to get bids to ensure costs are kept within reason.

Regardless of the final price tag, the Archdiocese requires the parish to have half of the necessary funds in hand with the other half pledged before any dirt can be moved. This leaves quite a challenge on the part of the parish to keep up the momentum of the campaign, which began in the spring of 2007.

The new facility will offer a seating capacity of 800 in the sanctuary as well as a “modern school” that is fully accessible. The building will allow for office space for both the church and the school and meeting rooms to “serve the parish family.”

The intention is to create a home for the congregation that will serve them long into the future, with space for parking and future growth.

“In the history of St. Mary’s, efforts to expand or move the parish complex have been attempted several times,” Lecher said. “To date, this campaign has been the most successful and demonstrates the faith and sacrifice of the parishioners, similar to the sacrifices of our 19th century ancestors.”

Lecher continued by noting the Pastoral Council and Msgr. Knueven are dedicated to making the new facility a reality.

For more information or to ask questions, contact St. Mary’s Church.

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